The mood in the Academy was tense the day after the catacombs mission. Whispers spread like wildfire about the team's discovery of corrupted mana. Some students speculated that it was a remnant of an ancient war, while others feared it was the prelude to an invasion. For Elias, it was just another reason to avoid standing out.
In the privacy of his dorm, he reviewed the system's new mission.
Elias leaned back in his chair, staring at the glowing text. "Clues, huh? If it's anything like last time, this won't be easy."
A soft knock interrupted his thoughts. He opened the door to find Lila standing there, her expression a mix of curiosity and hesitation.
"Elias, do you have a moment?" she asked. "I need your help with something."
"Sure," he replied, masking his reluctance. "What's up?"
She handed him a parchment filled with arcane symbols. "These are copies of the runes from the catacombs. I've been trying to decipher them, but I'm missing context. I thought maybe you could take a look."
Elias froze. He wasn't an expert in ancient languages, but the system might be able to help. "Uh, yeah. I can try."
As soon as he took the parchment, the system chimed:
Convenient, he thought, pretending to scrutinize the symbols. "Give me some time," he said. "I'll see what I can find."
Lila smiled. "Thanks, Elias. I knew I could count on you."
That evening, Elias sat cross-legged on his bed with the parchment spread before him. Activating Enhanced Perception, he focused on the runes. Patterns began to emerge, and the system highlighted key elements with glowing annotations.
Great. A library trip, Elias groaned inwardly. But there was no avoiding it. He grabbed his coat and headed to the library, keeping his head low to avoid unnecessary attention.
The library's ancient halls were eerily quiet, the scent of aged parchment filling the air. He found himself a secluded corner and began searching through dusty tomes on rune magic. Hours passed as he pieced together fragments of information.
Finally, the system chimed again:
Sub-Mission Complete!
Reward: +50 Survival Points.
Bonus Insight: The runes were part of an ancient seal designed to contain a powerful entity. The corruption suggests the seal is weakening.
Elias stared at the text, a chill running down his spine. A powerful entity? That can't be good.
The next day, the team was summoned once more to the Headmaster's office. Aldric's expression was grave as he addressed them.
"We've received reports of unusual activity in the forest bordering the Academy. Given your recent success, I'm assigning your team to investigate."
Leon nodded confidently. "We'll handle it, Headmaster."
Elias suppressed a groan. Another mission. Another chance to get dragged deeper into the plot he desperately wanted to avoid.
The forest was dense and foreboding, sunlight barely penetrating the canopy. The team moved cautiously, weapons at the ready. Elias activated Enhanced Perception, scanning for anything out of the ordinary.
"Over here," Aria whispered, pointing to a cluster of blackened trees. The ground around them was scorched, and the air reeked of sulfur.
"This isn't natural," Nathaniel said, his voice uneasy. "It's like the mana here has been corrupted."
A sudden rustling in the bushes made everyone tense. From the shadows emerged a pack of creatures—twisted, grotesque forms that looked like a fusion of wolves and shadowy tendrils. Their glowing red eyes locked onto the team.
"Defensive positions!" Leon shouted, raising his sword.
The creatures lunged, and the forest erupted into chaos. Nathaniel cast protective barriers while Aria unleashed a flurry of arrows. Lila focused on healing, her magic glowing like a beacon amidst the darkness.
Elias stayed on the perimeter, using Silent Step to maneuver undetected. He watched as one of the creatures broke through the defenses, heading straight for Lila.
"Not on my watch," he muttered, activating Mana Disruption. The creature faltered mid-lunge, its form destabilizing before it dissolved into harmless wisps.
The battle was intense but brief. The team managed to defeat the creatures, though they were left battered and exhausted.
"What were those things?" Aria asked, breathing heavily.
"Corruption given form," Nathaniel replied grimly. "And it's spreading."
Elias's thoughts were racing. The corrupted mana, the weakening seal, the shadowy creatures—it all pointed to a larger threat looming over the Academy.
The system chimed softly:
Mission Complete!
Reward: +100 Survival Points.
Bonus: +10 Strategy (for effective use of abilities).
As the team made their way back to the Academy, Elias couldn't help but feel a sense of dread. The more he tried to avoid the story, the deeper he was pulled into its heart.
Just my luck, he thought bitterly. A third-rate villain caught in a first-rate disaster.